Folding crate.



N. A. OLUTB. FOLDING CRATE. APPLICATION FILED S'EPT. 21, 1909. 1,079,828, Patented Nov. 25, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Wentorn 'N. AQOLUTE.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1909.

1,079,328, Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

'3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Wifiaesses: fill/6721293:

N. A. GLUTE.

- FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 1909.

Patented NOV. 25, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET? 3.

Fig. 8.

WITNESSES:

INVENTDR ATTY.

COLUMBIA PLANdGRAPH 110.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

NETTIE A. GLUTE, OF RENSSELAER, NEW YORK.

FOLDING CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

Application filed September 21, 1909, Serial No. 518,889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NETTIE A. CLUTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Rensselaer, county of Rensselaer, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Crates, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to knock-down shipping crates, and the object of my invention is to provide a ventilated berry crate which may be readily knocked down for shipping when not in use, and when in its knock-down position folded into small space and then readily formed into position for receiving berry boxes and retaining them secure against mold or decay.

I attain this object by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a plan of the box in its knockdown spread-out position. Fig. 2 a side elevation with the box partly formed. Fig. 2 an end elevation of the box when formed ready for use. Fig. 3 a plan of the box folded for shipment. Fig. 4 an end elevation of the box in its folded position shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 a front elevation of the box formed for carrying berries. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the box formed for carrying berries. Fig. 7 is a cross section showing the cover raised. Fig. 8 is a plan of the box partly formed, with the portion, A, in a vertical position, the end pieces, E, folded against the side piece, D, and the side piece,

D, in a vertical position, with the trays and their cleats laid on the parts, B and C. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the crate in its folded position, showing the trays and cleats therein.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

For the purpose of transporting berries or other fruit to market, it is advisable to place them in such a receptacle that they will be not only retained therein, but prevented from molding or decaying by having a circulation of air in contact with them. It is also advisable to provide for so folding the crates that after the fruit has been taken therefrom they may be returned to the fruit grower or shipper at as little cost as possible, and for that reason the crates are knocked through said openings.

down and folded so that they will take up but little room in transportation.

I arrange a top portion, A, hinged to the side portion, B, which in turn is hinged to the bottom portion, O. The opposite side portion, D, is hinged to the bottom portion, C, and the ends, E, of the box are hinged to the ends of the side port-ion, D, respectively. The top portion or cover, A, is preferably made up of two boards secured together by cleats, 2, and provided with a hasp, l, adapted to engage the staple on the side portion, D, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 9. Suitable hinges, 3, secure the cover, A, to the side portion, B, and arepreferably so placed that there will be when the cover is placed in po sition a slight space between the edge of the cover, A, and the edge of the side portion, B, allowing for the ventilation of the box The side portion, B, is made up of a series of strips spaced from each other and is connected by hinges, 6, with the bottom portion, C, and spaced from said bottom portion a slight distance, as shown in Fig. 1, so that there will be opportunity for air to enter side portion, B, near the bottom portion, G, for ventilating purposes. The side portion, B, also has attached to it staples, 4, 4, which are located 'near the ends of the side portion thereof adjacent to the cover, A, for the purpose of receiving and. retaining the hasps, 9, 9, on the end portions, E, E, there being also preferably secured to the side portion, B, the bolts,

5, 5, for holding the hasps onto the staples.

To the bottom portion, C, I also secure by .suitable hinges, 7, side portion,.D, which is made up of slightly spaced strips, and to each end is hinged a portion, E, forming,

when the box is in position for use, the ends I of the box. Projecting from each end of the end portions, E, E, are the hasps, 9, 9, engaging, as before stated, with the staples, 4, 4, on the side portion, B.

WVhen the box is formed as shown in Fig. 7 with the cover, A, raised, it is compact, strong and capable of retaining the baskets of fruit which it may be desired-to transport and can be locked securely. Because of the openings near the bottom of each side and near the top just below the cover, as well as at the ends and sides, there is: provided a complete and thorough circulation of air through the crate which will prevent any probability of injury because of mold or decay.

By my arrangement of the hinges, 5, 6, 7 8, they are secured to what is the inside of the crate when it is formed ready for use. I also provide the hinges so that the cover portion, A, will when the crate is opened for inspection or removal of the berry crates be held in a raised position as shown in Fig. 7, the edge of the crate adjacent to the hinges resting upon the upper edge of the portion, B, holding the cover in its raised position.

When the crate is knocked down for shipment, the trays 20, 21 and 22 shown in Figs. 8 and 9, which are used for separating the baskets of'berries, may he placed therein and held by the folded-over portions from falling out during the shipment of the knocked down crate. Each tray has a cleat, M, eX- tending from end to end along each side of one of the surfaces of each frame, in use, the cleats resting upon the baskets of fruit, whereby a space will be maintained between the baskets containing the fruit in one layer and those next. In Fig. 8, however, the tray is shown placed onto the bottom, G, before the folded-over ends, E, and side piece, D, are folded into the knock-down position. The cover, A, is locked to the side portion, D, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9. After the end pieces, E, E, are folded onto the side piece, D, a tray 22 is placed thereon and the tray 22 and folded-over portions, E, E, and the side piece, D, are folded onto the portion 0.

The two trays 20 and 21 and their cleats M What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A folding berry crate comprising a bottom portion, having a side portion hinged thereto at one of its longitudinal edges and spaced therefrom; a cover hinged to said side portion; a side portion hinged to the other longitudinal edge of said bottom portion; an end portion hinged to each end of said last mentioned side portion, all so arranged and connected up that the ends may be folded onto one of the side portions and the folded ends and side portions folded onto the bottom portion, the cover folded onto the other of said side portions; and means for locking together the folded crate.

2. A berry crate comprising a bottom portion; a cover; two side pieces; two end pieces; a series of trays and cleats; chest hinges connecting the end pieces to one of the side pieces; chest hinges connecting the bottom to one of the side pieces; chest hinges connecting the bottom to the other of the side pieces; chest hinges connecting the cover to one of said side pieces; when knocked down and assembled for shipment in knocked down condition the end pieces folded onto the side piece to which they are hinged, a tray placed on said folded end pieces, the said side piece with the end pieces folded thereon and the tray resting on them folded onto the bottom, two trays and their cleats placed onto the other side piece, the cover folded onto the trays on said last mentioned side piece, and the cover locked in its folded over position to the first mentioned side piece, substantially as described.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. NETTIE A. CLUTE.

. Witnesses:

JoHN F. CLUTE,

M. LOUISE CLUTE.

I Copies of'this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

